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NBA Picks

NBA Picks ATS for Trail Blazers vs. Cavaliers

The Portland Trail Blazers have a perfect record against Eastern Conference opponents this season, but they’ll be challenged in taking on the Cleveland Cavaliers Tuesday night. Let’s take a closer look at the NBA betting lines for this non-conference affair at Quicken Loans Arena, with the opening tip scheduled for 7:00 p.m. ET.

Quite a start

Portland has the best record in the Western Conference, as it has won its last four games, including a 111-109 overtime victory over the Detroit Pistons as 3.5-point road favorites in the NBA odds Sunday, while going OVER the betting total for a third consecutive contest.

The Trail Blazers have four probable starters averaging in double figures, with veteran forward LaMarcus Aldridge leading the way in scoring 23.5 points a contest. He became the first NBA player with 450 points, 200 rebounds and 25 steals in his team’s first 20 games since 2004.

Playing solid basketball at home

Cleveland has won four straight games at this venue—outscoring opponents by 8.7 points a contest over that span. The Cavaliers have won seven of their last nine home games in this particular series.

Over the last two-plus seasons, the franchise has compiled a 10-13 SU and 12-11 ATS record as a home underdog of 3.5 to 6 points, with the UNDER going 14-9 in that situation.

Back-to-back situation

NBA handicappers are going to have an interest in backing the Trail Blazers in this spot, as they’ve gone 13-1 in back-to-backs so far during the 2013-14 campaign, with the franchise ending a four-game road trip in Minnesota Wednesday night.

Last season, Portland played 17 back-to-backs, which led to a dismal 5-12 record in the first game and 7-10 on the second contest.

Cavaliers start Kyrie Irving has the highest scoring average among Eastern Conference point guards at 20.9 points per game, as he’s one of just two players in the East with averages of at least 20 points and five assists per game this season.

In two career games versus the Trail Blazers, Irving is averaging 26.0 points on 53.7 percent shooting.

Since the calendar turned 2013, Cleveland has won 12 of 15 games when its star player scores 30 or more points, including a perfect 4-0 mark this season.

Prediction

I’m going to recommend that readers follow suit as we back the Cavaliers to our NBA picks, as they’ve covered the number in their last four games versus teams with a winning record.